WRS Board Changes
Board Membership Update – website
2021 brings change to the WRS Board as we thank departing Trustees Laura Ladd, Garth Shanklin and Keith Hay for their many years of service and volunteerism. Ms. Ladd joined the WRS Board in 2009; and led the Board as Chair from 2014 to 2020. Mr. Shanklin also became a member of the Board in 2009 and served in many notable capacities including Audit Committee Chair. Mr. Hay was a steadfast trustee during his tenure from 2013-2021 who represented Southwest Wyoming. We are grateful for their exceptional dedication to WRS and the successful financial futures of our members.
Joining the Board as new trustees, appointed by Governor Gordon and confirmed by the Wyoming State Senate, are Dr. Lesley Travers from Torrington, Mr. John Lummis from Jackson, and Mr. Robert Leibrich from Sheridan. Mr. Paul O’Brien from Jackson was appointed by Governor Gordon in September of 2020 to replace departing Trustee Brian Foster. WRS welcomes our new trustees and thanks them for their volunteerism, leadership and altruism.
Dr. Lesley Travers is the ninth president of Eastern Wyoming College in Torrington, Wyoming. Prior to assuming her post at Eastern Wyoming College, Dr. Travers spent nine years as the Dean of the School of Business and Industry at Casper College. Dr. Travers graduated from the University of Wyoming with a Doctor of Philosophy in Counseling and Higher Education specializing in marriage and family therapy. She has served on the Wyoming Mental Health Professions Licensing Board for 12 years, serving under two governors. Dr. Travers belongs to the Wyoming Counseling Association serving as president (two separate terms) and secretary for two terms.
Mr. Robert Leibrich is Vice-President and a Wealth Advisor with First Interstate Bank in Sheridan Wyoming. He has been in wealth management since 1985 and conducts presentations for local and regional conferences on trusts, estate, retirement and financial planning topics. Mr. Leibrich graduated from the MBA program at the University of South Dakota and obtained a B.S. in Business Administration from Northern State University. He is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and is a Certified Financial Planner and is actively engaged in the Sheridan community through the College Board, various community non-profits, and his church.
Mr. John Lummis serves as board member, advisor and investor in the insurance sector. He is a board member at Kairos Acquisition Corp., a publicly held SPAC, where he chairs the audit committee. He is an advisor to Insight Catastrophe Group, NYCA, and Pelican Ventures Group. He is the CEO of Soncy Capital, which advises and invests in early-stage insurance business. Mr. Lummis has a law degree from the University of Michigan and received his undergraduate degree from Stanford University. He is chair of the investment committee at the Community Foundation of Jackson Hole and is a board member at the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum.
Mr. Paul O’Brien was most recently Deputy Chief Investment Officer at the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the world’s largest sovereign wealth funds. Previously, Paul was a global fixed income portfolio manager at Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Mr. O’Brien started his career as Economist and then Section Chief at the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System in Washington, DC. He worked in the Division of Monetary Affairs and regularly briefed the Board on monetary policy issues and developments in financial markets. Mr. O’Brien has a PhD in Economics from the University of Minnesota. He attended the US Naval Academy and received his undergraduate degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
We also wish to thank Senator Dave Kinskey and Representative Don Burkhart for their service as past legislative liaisons as they also depart our Board. Representative Burkhart has been one of WRS’ longest serving legislative liaisons over the years. Senator Tara Nethercott and Representative Bill Henderson have been appointed to replace them and we welcome them in our continued partnership to build financial security for members and their families.
Wyoming State Legislature Retirement Board Liaisons : https://www.wyoleg.gov/
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| Sen. Kinskey House District 15 Johnson County Sheridan County |
Rep. Burkhart Senate District 22 Carbon County |
Sen. Nethercott Senate District 04 Laramie County |
Rep. Henderson House District 41 Laramie County |